Gramophone



Jan. 6, 1931. G. B. KING 1.788.304

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8. 192?: 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

INVENTOR Geolye B King HTTORN :Ys

Jan- 6. 1931. G, we, 1,188,304

. I GRAMOPHONI'} Filed April 1.929 10 Sheets-Shet 2 NVENTOR 660196Blfbny BY MM ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1931. G. B. KING GRAMOPHONE Filed April8, 192a FlCa.3

FIG.4.

1O Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR EeoIyeB Ki/11:9

BY m 1 7% TTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1931. w 5, KING 1,788,304

' GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8. 1929 10 sheets-sheet 4 &

INVENTCR eorge B151? ATTORNEYS G. B. KiNG Jan. 6; 1931.

GRAMOPHONE 1Q Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 8, 1929 INVENTOR y W Geo; BY

ATTORNEYS G. B. KING Jan. 6, 1931.

GRAMOPHONE Filed April '8, 1929 lo Sheets-Sheet '7 'VIIIIIIIIIIIII) Jimliihunun I 1 NVENTOR (80736 1 3K176 HTTORN EYS G. B. KING GRAMOPHONEFiled April 8, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 I INVIENTOR (1:80:76 B BYATTORNEYS v Jan. 6, 1931. B KlNG, 1,788,304

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 PIC-1.15.

L n\ asca 5 1 810 18% INVENTOR George 3 .King 4 W HTTORNEKS G. 5. KING1,788,304

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8, 1929 1.0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Jan. 6, 1931.

INVENTOR $60196 BY HTTORNEXS Patented Jan. 6, 1931 stars- F T NeRAMorHoNn Application filed April 8, 1929, Serial No. 353,543, and in'iGreat Britain April 17, 1928.

This invention relates to 'ranioohones and ,1 1 L has Ior its oo ect to.)rov1de improved apparatus for releasably holding the needle andimproved apparatus for releasing the needle 1; holder .whenit isrequired to replace the n-edle.

A further object of the present invention not cause any undue strain tobe applied to the diaphragm oithe sound box.

A further object of the present invention is to construct the needleholder so that it will operate satisfactorily with needles'of anydiameter within the usual range of diameters employed for gramophoneneedles.

A furtherobject of the present invention is to construct the apparatusso that when the needle holder is released the needle is auton'iaticallypositively moved in the holder so that it will be free to drop out. Y i

' Referring to the drawings an Figure 1 is a plan View showing agrainophone fitted with apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a plan, view showing the gramophone when the needle gripperhas been moved intoits released position.

Figure 3 isa View upon a .largerscale in section on line 3 -3 of Figure1.

Figure l is a view of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 55of Figure 2; i i I Figure 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown inFigure 5.

Figure 7 is asiue view of thesound box to which the needlegripper isapplied.

Figure 8 is a view looking upon the under side of the sound box. r

Figure 9 isa front View of tliefsound box. Figure 10 is a sectional viewon line10l0, 59 Figure 7.

' with Figure 18.

gran ophonehaving a sound dox 1 andtone with an end plate 7 ofarc'uatcform adapted Figure ll is a sectional View online ll-ll, Figure 10.

Figure'lQ is a planviewshowing another toner or operating means for theneedle gripper.

Figure 13 is a sectional view in side elevation' of the apparatus shownin Figure 12 but with the needlegripper in the loading position.

F igure His a Figure '13.

Figure 15 is a plan view showing another section on line l t-14 0i"fOIlD. ofoper'ating means for the gripper.

Figure 16 is Figure 15.

Figure 17 is Figure 15. V

Figure 18 is a side vie'vv partlyin section a section on line 16-,16oi'a section on line l71'7 of showing a modified form of needle gripper.

gripper shown in Figure 18. v

F1gurer20 ls'a plan View corresponding 5 Figure" 19 is a sectional frontview of the Figure 18; V V Figure 22fis a side view partly'in sectionshowing a further form of gripper constrncted in accordance with thisinvention.

Figure 23 is a section on line 23*23 Figure-22. a I 4 Figure 24=is asectional plan showing a further modification. 'In the constructionillustrated in Figures Ito 11, the invention is shown applied to aFigure 21 is a sectional view on line 2121,

arm 2' although it is to be understood that these-may h e replaced byanelectrical reproin section online l4:.

in the'well known way;- The parts 2 and 5,'however, are attachedtogether pivotally as shownclearly in Figures 3 and 4:. K T he part5 isprovided W th a bracket hav;

ing two jawstl andthe part 2 is provided The part 2 may carry a palr oflevers each having a balancing weight 11 for the purpose ofcounter-balancing the additional weight of the sound box as comparedwith an ordinary sound box due to certain mechmii ism which is mountedthereon and which willb'e hereinafter described.

The sound box, see particularly-Figure 5, has a diaphragm to which isvattached one end of a stylus bar 18 the stylus bar being pivotallyorequivalently mounted at 1 1 and incorporating a needle gripper 15.

It is usual in gramophone soundboXes for the axis of the needle holderto'be parallel to the plane of the diaphragm but will i be observed thatwe have adopted a con'struction in which the axis of the needle holderisset at an obtuse angle in relation to the plane of the diaphragm.

It will be observed that the .needlegripper which is shown more clearlyin Figures 10 and 11 is provided with ahole 16. which extendscompletely.:therethrough so that the needles can be fed in fromtheendopposite to that from which they project when worlzmg:- r

Further, it will be observed that the axis of the needle gripper and theplane of the diaphragm of the sound-box if-extended vvwill both passthrough the point about which the stylus bar .asa whole is pivoted. a

' The needle gripper is designed to accommodate any diameter ofneedle-which is the needle gripper.

within the usual. range of diameters of gramophone needles and in theconstruction shown in Figures 10 and 1,1 the needle gripper comprisesthe member, 15 having the continuous hole therethrouglu The upper partofthe hole-may be of tapering form as shown and the hole may be oftriangular section as shown in Figurell the needle con tacting two sidesof the triangle.

Extending transversely through the member15 is a hole in which is placeda sliding pin which forms the movable member, of

rvan enlarged head -18 under which operates 'a-snring '19 tending tomove the pin to the right as seen in Figure 9. r V a:

The pin 17 is, provided witha rectangular hole.20 through which theshank of the needle passesandif required one end 21 of 1 thishole maybjeof convex form as shown.

. QAsshown in Figures 10 and 11 theneedle holdenis grippinga,needl.e,the surface-2O pressing the needle laterally into the angleformed at the righthand side of the trian'gularhole throughthe memberl5r The pin 17 r is slotted as shown M522 and a pin 23 inthe member15Ipasses through the The lever 1s provi This sliding pin has slot inorder to prevent the pin 17 from turning on its own centre.

Further, the end of the pin 17 carries a transverse pin 2 1 which limitsbodily the movement of the pin 17 under the influence of the spring 19.a 7

It will be observed that it the head 18 of the pin is pushed towards themember 15,'the

.convexj surface 21 will move away from the shank of the needleSOjtllilt'llllG needle-will then be released. In orderjto prevent theneedle from remaining in the angle of the triangular hole 16 (see Figure11) the opposite end 25 of the opening 20 advances towards the righthand side of the needle and pushes it out of the angle so thatit ispositively released and will therefore drop under gravity. I

The upper part of the member 15 is provided with lateral trunnionsorbosses 26 the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the pin 11 andthese trumnons are engaged by pins 27 with balls 28 interposed betweenthe ends of the pins and the ends of recesses 29 in the trunnions 26. 7

By mounting the member 15 in this manner it is able to pivot about theaxis 14 which is of course the centre line or" the pins 27.

For operatiugthe pin 17 to release and eject the needle we may provide apair of levers 30, 31 these levers being pivoted at and 33 respectivelyto a bracket 3% which is fixed tothe sound box. 7

The twolevers30, 31 are acted upon by a spring 35 which tends to movethem apart and they are each provided with a heel piece 36 between whichis a stop 3? formed by the head of a screw so that the outward movementof the two levers under the pressure of the spring 35 is limited.

ded, with a pair of cheeks 38' which are adapted to come into contactwith one side of the member 15 while theflever 31 is adapted to engagethe head 18 0f thepin l7. I

30th levers areprovided with inclines 39 and thelever 31 is providedwith a projection 40. J a

The levers are operated to release the needle 'ri er when the tone arm 2is swun to theside of the turntable, inclines 39 of the levers cominginto contact with rollers 41 mounted on a carriage 42 which is slidablymounted in guides efifixed to a'bracket 44 on the structure of themachine at the side of the turntable. v

It will be observed that thecarriage 42 can slide in a directionsubstantially parallel to. the axisof thepin 17 so that the two rollersetlfare self centering in relation tot-he levers 30 and 31,thetw0 leversconsequently being operated simultaneously it be ng impossible -to exertpressure on'oneside of the) needle gripper without exerting anequal andopposite pre'ssure upon the opposite side.

loo 1 itwill be seen that the tone arm part 2is Thus whenrelease of theneedle gripper occurs, the member 1s supported by the -cheeks 33 as soonas the pin 17 commences to be moved by the lever 31.

In the construction illustrated, however,

"the carriage 42 is slidably:mounted and it moved inwardly a suflicientdistanceto oil-'1 able its surface to push the gramophono needle out ofthe angle of the slot in the member 15 but the projection '40 will passthe roller 41 before the loading position is reacl'iedso that the pin 17is permitted to move back again sufilciently far to enable the freshneedle to enter the gripper without encountf eringrobstruction from thepin. 17..

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4 providedwith a downwardlyprojecting bracl 4]" which bracket carries avi'oller 48. This rollerengages in a slot 49 in a guide, member 50 lined at the side of themachine this engagement ensuring that when the tone arm is swung to theside oi' the turntab-leit will be moved into the correctposi ionrelative nism. Further the provisionotthe guide 50 ensures that the tonearm will be moved into or y maining released-nntilthe tone armhas beenmoved back towards the turntable sulficiently a position to bringtheaxis of the needle gripper substantially vertical, this provision beingdesirable in order to ensure that the spent needle will drop out of thegripperimmediately the gripper isreleased- The piv-V otal joint 9 in thetone arm enables the tone rm part 2 to move into the required position.

jcting; arm 51 having a. wedge shaped proj ection 52 on its under sideand when. the tone arm is swung into. the loadingposition the projection52 rides over a spring pressed nose which enables the operator to feelwhen the movement is .complete.- If the operator moves the edge of theprojection 52 over the highest point of the nose 53the spring pres-Esure on the nose 53 may be sufiicient to en; sure that the movement iscompleted- The needles may be released before loading position; (shownin Figure 6) 1s reached and in the construction illustratedthe needlesare released before this APQSlblOll is reached the needle gripper beingmoved into its open or released position and retained in-' such positionby the levers- 30, 31 during the loading operation and the needlegripper refor the levers 30, 31t0 leavethe rollers 41; 1

In the construction shown in'F-igures 12 to 14 the Sound box 1,turntable 3 and tone arm 2 and. 5 together with the guide and the parts7 47 :48 and 49 are constructed substantially as described withreference to Figures 1 to 1 1.

I In the construction shown in Figures 12 to -14 the needle magazine 54may be of substantially the same vform asthat described in our Britishspecification 315737.,

In this construction the magazine is demounted so' 'that it canswing-about thesame i centre as the part 50f the tone arm.

The-arm 124 is actedupon by a spring" 125 and is adapted to move betweenstops 126 and '7 i The arrangement is suchthat thetone arm can be swungto the side of the turntable and 1 will engage with asuitable part ofthearm 124 after which the tone armand the arm 124- "will move togetheruntil the arm 12 t the free end of the arm is downwardly cranked asshown at 129 and has its extremity 130 extending horizontally. I

' ,A part 129 is slotted as shown at 131 and on the unders'ide of. thearm 124 isfixed a depending bracket 132 to which a pair of scis- 130ilike levers 133'and 134 are attached by a to the rollers .41 and aneedle leeding' mecha-.

pivot pin 135.

i' taohablyfmounted upon a-supporting arm 124 1 A bracket 132, however,is slotted as shown at 136 in order to allow the lovers 133 and 134 tocentre themselves in relation to the needle rippenl 1 my I It will beunderstood that the needle gripper operating levers 30 and 31 shown inFigures 1 to 11 are omitted from this construction and the levers'133'and 134 are employed in their place andoperate insubstantiallythe .j j jj same manner. The tone arm part 5 lSPl'OVldBCl-Wltll a pro- One end ofeach lever 133, 1341's slotted as shown at 137 and rollers: 138 areprovided the axlepins ofwhich engagethe slots 137. This allows ofadjustment ofthe rollers onthe le-' E vers so that the opening of theneedle holder may be timed. e f a 1 These rollers 138- engage thesurfaces 139 and 140 of, a cam plate :141 fiXedto the structureotthe'machine, thev surfaces 139'a'nd 140 includinginclines 142 and143which cause the arm 124 is swung towards the stop 127.

the levers to be closed on the gripper when H Further the lsurfaoe 140adjacent to thein- V V cline 143 is provided with a projection-144'causing the lever 134 150 make an ejecting:

movement in the same way that the lever 31 operates as hasalreadybeendescribed;

"As thearm 124 and the parts associated therewithmay be 01"considerableweight the arm maybe orovided'with a sun iortin roller i v v1 t? the side of the turntable.

For positioning the sound box in relation 145 adapted to run on thestructure at to the jend'ol the arm 124 the-sound box may l iii) beprovided withtwo projecting plates163 In the arrangement showninFigures-',

. 16 and 17, thetonearm is'intwo parts 187 V and'188 between whichisa'pivoted joint 189 which allows the 'sound box to be turned upwardly.away fromtherecord when'required.

The joint 189, however, is provided witha stop limiting tho-downwardm'ovementofthe part 188.

The sound box 1 90 is pivotallymounted by j means of the joint'191pn theend of th'e part 188 so that the sound box can turn about-a horizontalaxis at right angles to the axis of -the pivot otthe needle' holder thismovement "taking placeagainst the action of aspring 192, the motionbeing limited by a pin and slot connection 193. Thismovement is providedto allow the sound'box to be rotated'to bring the needle into asubstantially vertical position so that when the needle I holder isreleased the needle will move freely-therein by gravity. V

This movement of the sound box is effected automatically when the tonearm is swung to the side of theturnta'bleand caused to swing the arm186. On thearm 186 is a stop 194 which is engaged by the tone arm sothat further movement of the tone arm causesthe arm 186 to swing on itspivot.

On the arm 186 18 mounted asliding plate 195, this plate having pins196whioh slide in i by a sliding rod 203 having a .roller 20% which j Ip w Further, although-1n the c(' nstruct'1ons ill'ustrated the tone armis adapted to be moved hand it is tobe understood that the tone armand/orthe 'second'arm may be moved guide slots 197 on thearm 186. I

The end of the plate 195 is turned upwardly, as shown at 198, and thepart'198 is adapted to engage a roller 199 mounted on the soundbox sothat when the'plate 195ismoved totheright (see Figure 17') the sound boxis rotated about its own centre that the needle comes into asubstantially vertical position (as seen in Figure 17). Y

The necessary sliding 13201 81116116 is imparted to the plate 195 byproviding the plate 195 withhallug200 having an' opening in] whichengages one end of a lever 201p1-voted 7 arm may be provided w th ahandle such as at 202 to the arm 186. The lever isoperat'ed engages afixed cam 205..

T 5 The rod 203 is suitably guided guides 206 and and a spring 268 isprovidedacting on a collar 209 to keep the roller QOf-i fin contact withthe cam.

Thus when theiarm 186 is swungfthe plate I 195 slides in such manner asto pull the sojnnd'.

boxinto the required"position." r

The means forreleasing theneedlegripp'er are mounted on the plate'195andconsist of a plate'21O having an upwardly pro]ect1ng projecting end 213.

end 211 and plate 212having an upwardly.

The plate 210 is while the plate 212 is provided with an ear 2l5 bywhich it may be operated.

. The-two parts 211 and 213 form the means of operating the needlegripper and it will be seen that both the plates 210' and 212 have afloating movement substantially parallel to the axis of the movablemember of the needle gripper, both of these plates being slotted andguided on pins216 provided on the plate 195.

The plate 195 is provided-with an car 21 which is connected by a lightspring 218 to a'projection 219 on the plate 210.

The gripper 211, 213 is operated by means of'flexible'transmissionmechanism such as a Bowden cable 229 the outer member of which engagesthe part 215 and the inner member providedwith an ear 214: l by whichitmay be operated The second arm of the lever 222'has a roller 22%t'whichengagesalixed cam 225 and the arm186 1s swung so that the ncedlegripperis operated at the correct time.

Levers 228 may be pivoted to a bracket on the sound box for engaging theneedle gripping device upon opposite sides and the mcm bers 211 and 213may engage these levers.

'The needle magazinefmay'be arranged so that the fresh needles are fedone by one by means of a plunger operated by a projection 226 engaginga. fixed cam 227.

Instead of mounting the plate 195andthe operating means for the needlegripper which are carried thereon to have a simple sliding movement ofthe arm 186 the plate 195 carryingthe. needle gripper operating meansmay he mountedso that it can pivot on a horizontal pivot in addition tosliding. ly those means theparts 198, 211 and 2 llmay move in a curvedpath andmay follow theneedle gripper round as'the sound box turns andthe o amount of clearance between the parts 211 and 2l3'maybe'veryconsiderably reduced.

In all the constructions described the tone 16 to facilitate itsmovement;

bypower "such: as electrical power-for the power oi theturntable-motor:ifrequired.'

. ,The member 169 is further proyided with a clearance hole 162 arrangedtransversely with respect to the length of the groove 161,

At the top the member 160 is provided with trunnions 163 which aresimilar to the trunnions described with reference to Figures 10 and lland which may be similarly supported. I v u In the construction shown inFigures l8 i021, however. the movable member takes the form of a} 16% atached to a lever 165i pivoted at lllththe pin 16;; being provided witha hole or opening 16'? one end- 168 of which is convex and presses theneedleinto the groove 161, the other end 169 of the hole which may befiat, operating to press the needle out of the V groove when the gripperis released.

The pm 164 isq'irovided with a spring 1(() which presses against thehead of the pin 171 and against a washer 172.

A somewhat similar construction is shown in Figures 22 and 23 but inthis case the movable member takes the form of a stirrup 173 carried bya lever 174 pivoted at 175, the stirrup being attached to the lever bymeans ot a lever 17 6.

In this case the lever is provided with a projection 17? the end 178 ofwhich may be convex which serves to press the needle lnto the V groove161 of the stationary member while the stirrup 173 is provided with apin 17 9 which operates as an ejector to push the needle out of the Vgroove when the gripper is open.

The sides of the stirrup 173 engage the sides of the stationary member160 as shown 111 Figure 22.

In the construction. shown ml igure 24 the stationary member 160 isprovided w th transverse grooves 181 in its sides and a stirrup 182 isarranged to slide in these grooves with rectilinear motion one end ofthe st rrup having a pin 1S3 torpressing the needle into the V groove161 and the ther end of the stirrup having a pin 184 which acts as anejector.

The stirrup 182 is provided with spring 180 serving to retain theneedlegripger in its closed position.

Claims.

1. In. a gramophone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar, having a movable gripping member, mounted for movementin a direction transverse to the axis of the needle, and operating meansfor the gripper including members for engaging the gripper at oppos tesides and applying thereto equal and opposlte forces.

2. In a gramophone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar, having amovable gripping member, mounted for movementin a direction transverse to the axis or" the needle, and operatingmeans for the gripper including a mem-' her having floating movement,substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the movablegripping member;

8. In a gramophone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar,

direction transverse to the axis of the needle, and operat.- ing meansfor the gripper including a pair of levers adapted to engage one oneither side of the gripper, and means for causing them to engageopposite sides of the gripper.

4. 111 a gramophone the combination of astylus bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar, having a movable gripping member, mounted for movementverse to the axis of the needle, means for thegriipp-er including a pairof levers adapted to engage one on either side of the gripper, and meansforcausing them to engage opposite sides of the gripper, said meansincluding a carriage having a pair of spaced abutments and mounted forfloating movement parallel to the movement of the movablegrippingmember.

In a grammohone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar, having a movable gripping member, mounted for movementin a direction transverse to the axis ofthe needle, operating means forthe gripper including a pair of levers adapted to engage one on eitherside of the gripper, said levers having their-ends shaped as camsurfaces, and means for causing them to engage opposite sides of thegripper, said means including a carriage having a pair of spacedabutments and mounted for floating movement parallel to the movementot-the movable gripping member.

j 6. In a gramophone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripperon said stylus bar, having a movable gripping member, mounted formovement in a direction transverse to the axis of the needle, operatingoperating means for the gripper including a pair of levers adapted toengage oneon either side of the gripper, said levers having their endsshaped as cam surfaces, means for causing them to engage opposite sidesof the gripper,

said means including a carriage having a and mounted for pair of spacedabutments floating movement parallel to the movement of the movablegripping member and a spring to cause said lovers to interlock with said.abutments.

7; In gramophone the combination of a stylus, bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar, having a movable gripping member, mounted for movementin a direction transverse to the axis of the needle, a reproducer, andoperating means for the gripper includmg a pair of lovers on thereproducer, and" means for causing them to engage opposite sides of thegripper.

In a s phone the com i a ion of in a direction transquick release needlegripper and operating means there-torcomprising a pair of meme bersmounted on'a movable arm at the side of the turntable, the said membersbeing adapted to be operated to release the needle gripper by means offlexible transmission mechanism. 7

9. In a gramophone the combination of a, stylus bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar, said needle gripper comprising a fixed 7 member rigidlyconnected to said stylus bar and a movable gripping member mounted formovement in a direction transverse of the axis of the needle, the needlecontacting at two spaced points with the fixed member of the gripper andthe movable member of said gripper contacting the needle at a pointintermediate said two spaced points.

10. In a gramophone the combination of a stylus bar,'a-needle gripper onsaid stylus bar, said needle gripper comprising a fixed member rigidlyconnected to said stylus bar and a movable gripping member mounted formovement in a direction transverse of the axis of the needle, the needlecontacting at two spaced points with the fixed member of the gripper andthe movable member of said gripper contacting the needle at a pointintermediate said two spaced points, a spring acting between said fixedand said movablemembors for holding said needle rigidly between thepoint of contact on the movable member and the'two spaced points ofcontact on the fixed member.

11. Ina gramophone the combination of a, stylus bar, a needle gripper onsaid stylus bar said needle gripper comprising a fixed member'rigidlyconnected to said stylus bar, said fixed member having a longitudinalopeningand a transverse guide, a movable gripping member mounted formovement in said guide, the needle contacting at two spaced pointswith-the fixed member of the gripper and the movable member of saidgripper contacting the needle at a point inter.- mediate saiditwo spacedpoints, a spring acting between said fixed and said movable members forholding said needle rigidly between the point of contact on the movablemember and the two spaced points of contact on the fixed member. i

12. In a gramophone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripperonsaid stylus bar, said needle gripper comprising a,- fixed member rigidlyconnected to said stylus'har and a movable gripping member mounted formovement in a direction transverse of the axis of the needle, the needlecontacting at two spaced points with the fixed member of the gripper anda movable member of said gripper contacting the needle at apointintermediate said two spaced points, the side of said movablemember engaging the needle being concave in longitudinal cross sectionto facilitate releasingbf the needle.

13. In a g amophone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripperon'said stylus bar, said needle gripper comprising a fixed memberrigidly connected to said'stylus bar and a movable gripping membermounted for movement, said movable member comprising a stirrup member,the parallel arms 01 which member embrace the fixed member of thegripper, said movable member being mounted for movement in a directiontrans verse of the axis otthe needlm-the needle contacting attwo'spa'ced points with thetixed member of the gripper, and the movablemember of said gripper contacting the needle at a point intermediatesaid two spaced points. V

let. In a gramophone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripperon said stylus bar, said needle gripper comprising a fixed memberrigidly connected to said stylus bar and a movable gripping membermounted for movement, said movable member comprising stirrup member,the'parallel arms of which member embrace the fixed member of'tliegripper, the needle contacting at two spaced points with the fixedmember of the gripper, said movable member having a gripping portion forengaging the needle at a point intermediate said two spaced points andhaving an ejecting portion for releasing the needle.

15. In a gramop'hone the combination of a stylus bar, a needle gripperon said stylus bar, said needle gripper comprising-a fixed memberrigidly connected to said stylus bar and a movable gripping membermounted for movement, said movable member comprising a stirrup member,the parallel arms of which'member embrace the fixed member of thegripper, said movable member being mounted for movement, the needlecontacting at two spaced points with the fixed member ot-the gripper,said movable member having a gripping portion for engaging the needle ata point intermediate said two spaced points and having an ejectingportion for releasing the needle, a spring acting between said fixed andsaid movable members for holding said needle rigidly between the pointof contact on the movable member and the two spaced points of contact onthe fixed member. In witness whereof I afiix my signature.

[GEORGE BASIL KING.

